I'm that guy

When I first came to Rexburg before the mission in 2001 it was the first semester of the school being officially BYU-I. Either I didn't pay attention very well, or there just weren't nearly as many married students. Actually, I am sure both were true. I remember there being a couple married guys in one of my 100 level classes that talked about having a kid or kids. I wondered to myself, "What is taking them so long?" I don't know that I was critical of them but I did think it was weird once in a while that they were married and already had kids.

I am in my last general class right now - Theater Appreciation. There are something like 24 girls and 4 boys in the class. I wasn't quite expecting that. Also, I think I am by about 5 years the oldest person in the class. I don't think anyone in there other than myself is over 19. I am now that guy that I wondered about when I was a freshman. Ana is over a year old, I will be 25 soon and will graduate in April. It has been interesting for me to watch them interact with each other throughout the class. Maybe I will tell a funny story or two about them or just try to paint you the picture I see every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:15-4:45. It is such a change from the classes I am used to taking right now. The other day the professor actually said the words "extra credit" when talking about the grade in his class. He gave us the topic for every single question on the test a few days before we took it. I will have to let you know more about the class later. One last thing on the class - my teacher Omar Hansen has been in a few TV movies and played a cop for a while whenever they wanted one on Days of Our lives. He was the lead in a few plays at the Globe theater in LA as well. He is pretty animated and funny.

On to what you have been waiting for - they mystery picture

The mystery picture was part of my bike, I think mostly the 2nd picture gave that away. But I like to think of it as more than just part of my bike. It is the sweet spot. My friends and I used to joke about how some of our bikes have what was called sweet spot suspension. The frame is two seperate parts that pivot together at the sweet spot. That is what I was looking for specifically so if Steven would have guessed I am sure he would have got it. Not too exciting but it was just a warm up.

As far as the picture from the mission reunion, I pretty much blew that one. But, there will be more to come.

Cute Magnets/Thumbtacks

I loved making these magnets/thumb tacks at my mom's house. They are easy, cute, fairly cheap and kids can do them too. Here's how if you don't already know.

Materials needed: Clear flat marbles (found at any craft store and Wal-mart. You can get small ones or big ones. I use small ones.)

Scrapbook or other design or colored paper

Modge-Podge

Glue Gun
Magnets or Thumbtacks

Step 1: Place a marble on the paper where you want the design to be. Trace and cut out

Step 2: Modge Podge the bottom of the stone. Press the paper onto the stone, design side down.

Step 3: Modge Podge over the top of the paper. Let dry

Step 4: Hot glue a magnet or thumbtack onto the marble.

Tada!

We made mostly magnets with bright blues and pinks at my moms. I made these ones at home and did some with thumb tacks since I use a cork board a lot. I made these 6 in less than an hour. Cute way to add holiday accents to your home.

Conference thoughts ...

My favorite talks for General Conference this year:

Elder Wirthlin: For a few years now he has been one of my favorite speakers. It seems he always talks about something applicable to me. Though he has a hard time speaking, his words are very eloquant. Read some of his past talks - they are excellent! Charity is the pure love of Christ and we all need to possess it. Increase you love for God and your love for others. You show your love for God by loving all his children. I was really touched by Elder Nelson's action of love by supporting Elder Wirthlin during his talk.

President Eyring: I did not expect him to be the new counselor, but it really fits. Remember each day what the Lord has done for us. Write it down. Gratitude and testimony will grow in abundance.

Sister Beck: Do Less! The church is not asking us to do it all, they are asking us to do the essential.

Elder Bednar: We need both clean hands and a pure heart. They are seperate. They come through repentance and the sactification of the Holy Ghost. This is one that I really want to reread. .

We're home...

from a really fun weekend. We left Friday afternoon and went to Salt Lake for Dave's mission reunion. He got to see a lot of people from the mission and his mission president, so it was worth it. We left it a little after 10, and drove to Rupert.

Saturday we watched General Conference with Dave's parents. He got to go to Priesthood Session with his Dad, which he really liked. His sister does a pumpkin patch every year with a ton of pumpkins. She decorates it really cute with scarecrows and even picture posing boards. We went over in between sessions of conference to pick out some pumpkins. It was really windy but so cute to watch Ana try to pick up all the pumpkins. Thanks Amy!

We also got to see Dave's nephew that just returned from a mission in Costa Rica. It was neat to see him and get to look at his mission books and ask him about it and stuff.

Sunday morning we drove to Pocatello to spend that day with my fam. I had some sisters in town from Logan, Boise and Caspar, WY and it was really fun to see them and their kids. We also made some really cute magnets that I'll take pictures of and post how to do them and stuff tomorrow. They are really easy!

We watched all the sessions of conference. We're so lucky to get to be able to watch it on TV. Its getting late so I'll post more about that tomorrow. It was a good fun weekend, but for Ana's sake, I'm glad we're home and back into a routine.

Mystery Foto 1

So, what kind of a blog will mine end up being? I really don't know. I can't think of many times lately when I have been hit with the urge to start writing. I have thought recently about how much I like telling stories. You know, just normal type stories. I am sure I could come up with a good story once in a while for you.

I am going to my first mission reunion in three years tomorrow night. I hope a few people I know will be there. I am planning on taking a mystery picture at the reunion to post here for your guessing pleasure. As a warm up we'll start with this:

This is actually a really hard one. Maybe you need one more picture:

If you can guess what it is I will buy you the special blizzard of the month from DQ and put it in the mail, either that or maybe eat it myself - and think of you as I enjoy.

"Mama"

is Ana's new favorite word. She likes to call my name when I go into the other room, or even when I'm holding her. Sometimes when I'm holding her, she'll look away and say, "Mama!" and when I call her name back, she looks at me and smiles. Gotta love that! I had a presidency meeting last night and Dave had a test at the same time, so I took Ana with me. When he finished his test, he picked her up from where I was. He told me later that when he brought Ana home, she kept calling my name. She looked down the hall and in the kitchen for me. When I heard that, I couldn't be mad that she wasn't in bed when I got home, even though it was 10:00. She wanted her "Mama."

piano girl

The other day, Ana really wanted to play on our piano...

I love her dancing. I have another video that was pretty cute, too, and you can hear her singing in it. And yes, she wears just a diaper quite often around the house.

CDs I really want

So,yesterday I was in Wal-mart looking at CDs and came across these CDs. I usually listen to country music, so of course, that is what section I was in. I really like Kenny Chesney's new song "Don't Blink" that is on this CD. Listening to the samples it sounds like the songs are pretty personal, and I like emotional songs like that. (I'm known to cry while listening to the radio.) Rascal Flatts has always been a favorite band of mine. There album "Me and My Gang" came out a while ago and I didn't love the title track so I never paid too much attention but a lot of the other songs that have been released are really good. "Stand," "What hurts the most," and "My Wish" are all really good songs. Still feels good is there brand new CD, and I just want it because I really like them as a band. And then the Trisha Yearwood greatest hits has some excellent songs on it, including a family favorite that is packed with memories "She's in love with a boy." That'll have to be another post because that would be a long trip down memory lane. But there are a lot of songs that are just great. I'm generally a fan of greatest hits CDs because they seem to be always worth the money you pay. Instead of paying $12 bucks for 6 good songs, you pay for 15 good songs. Usually I end up taking CDs I have and making my own collections anyway and then rarely listen to the album itself. I really want Brad Paisley to come out with a greatest hits CD because he has had a ton of way good songs that I like a lot. The other problem with "hits" albums is there is an occasion when a song that you love, doesn't make it onto the disc, but then you can download that one song and burn a new CD, so thats cool. The Sara Evans Greatest Hits CD that comes out next week probably won't be too bad either.

Now, don't get me wrong, I do like most types of music. Country is my favorite, mostly because of the lyrics. I like simple, real life songs, and I think most country portrays that. I used to love Faith Hill, but she's a little to much pop for me now. I like the the stuff that was big when I was younger mostly - george strait, garth brooks, trisha yearwood, etc. But Rascal Flatts and Brad Paisley, though they are more recent.

*i love*

My Crock Pot. I've used it 3 times in the last week and I love it!!! We have 1:30 church, so it is especially nice on Sunday. I just throw whatever in and we have dinner ready when we get home. Yesterday I did this rice and chicken bake - really yummy and easy! I wasn't sure how rice would do in the Crock Pot - especially because I used Brown Rice, which is by far my favorite kind. But it turned out really well. I just added some extra water and some butter so it didn't stick to the sides, and it was quite tasty! Here's the recipe

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts (I cut them into strips)

1-1/2 cups brown rice

4 cups water

3-4 tbl butter

1 package Onion Soup Mix

1 can Cream of Mushroom soup

Combine ingredients. Cook in Crockpot on high for 3 hours or low for 5-6 hours.

I am always looking for easy Crock pot recipes. Please share your recipes or websites that have good ones.

How it started

I only started my own blog because Erin needed help learning to do youtube posts. She didn't want me messing with her blog so here is one of my own, complete with Reggie Miller, Weezer, and the Muppets. I don't know how diligent I will be with posting things. I don't know what I will post. Erin has a great time doing this, and I love reading what some of my other friends have posted as well. So, I guess today is the day I go public. I have a blog. And I am somewhat committed to posting regularly.

Hopefully someday soon there will be something entertaining or informational here.